Records show Carbondale hotel has long history with police

WSIL -- A Carbondale hotel where a man was shot earlier this month has a long history with police.

According to a call for service log obtained by News 3 through a Freedom of Information request, police responded to more than 200 calls at the America's Best Value Inn at 700 E. Main within in the last year.

The call log shows officers responded to dozens of extra patrols around the hotel nearly every week.

Police also responded to half a dozen reports of theft, a burglary, two bicycle thefts, two fights, two reports of missing children, and one overdose.

The owner of the hotel, Neal Patel, declined repeated requests for an interview for this story.

Milton McDaniels owns the only house next to the hotel.

He said the hotel constantly crawls with police.

That's why he said he was not surprised by the shooting.

"There's police there everyday which I think is a good thing," said McDaniels.

McDaniels said he hopes the hotel owner does something to get crime under control.

"Does it bother me? Yes, but at the same time I have faith in our law enforcement here," said McDaniels.

News 3 also obtained a letter sent to Patel by Carbondale Police Chief Jeff Grubbs. In the letter, Grubbs warned Patel that the hotel was "in danger of becoming a chronic nuisance house."

By law, the motel owner must show police how he plans to make sure something like the shooting doesn't happen again.

According to the city's ordinance, the city can fine an owner whose property is deemed a chronic nuisance $250 for the first offense, $500 for the second and $750 for each subsequent offense.

The owner may also have to pay court costs, should the matter get that far.

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